Cutie? Moi?

So, a lesson of politics is to not always believe what you read in the papers. Facebook alerted me (thanks Alexia) that I was now a Cameron cutie.. it has taken two days to reach the local pub! Well, if only it were true but  hey ho.. they have to sell papers somehow and yes, I admit, I went and bought the paper.

Interesting moves today (and not just in Norfolk) in the political arena. We live in interesting times...

Disappointed but moving on..

I enjoyed my time in the SW Norfolk process but the members had a clear view that they wanted Liz Truss. Congratulations to her and I am sure she will do very well.

Just to say thankyou to the Association for running a straightforward process - nice people and a nice constituency. That extends beyond the Association - it was a pleasure to meet many of the people who make a difference to their communities and Rizzo was warmly welcomed everywhere, ball in mouth - even in the local church!

Happy Trafalgar Day

Today is Trafalgar Day. Nelson, Baron of Hilborough in Norfolk among other titles, was one of our greatest patriots. Long may his spirit reign in HM Navy.

 

We need more prison places not early release schemes

Excellent coverage today in the Times on sentencing, anti-social behaviour and the number of prisoners reaching a record high.

Nearly 85, 000 prisoners are serving time and it would be more if the automatic sentence reduction was not in effect and the early release scheme (from which 60,000 people have benefited in the last 2 years). The number is more than double than 18 years ago (in 1991, there were 41,000 prisoners) and corresponds to about 149 in every 100,000 people are in jail.

It was only 2 years ago that John Reid, the then Home Secretary, was imploring judges not to send people to jail as there was no room. That was terrible then and the risk is that it is starting again as we discover that prison governors are releasing more prisoners earlier and in some cases, not even admitting prisoners in the first place.

So are more prisons the answer to rising crime?

More Prisons isn't the answer to crime but having more prison places is one of the solutions and will address the issue that criminals should serve their time in full with remission only for good behaviour, not as an automatic process.

We have to step up the prison building programme. We can pay for that in two ways - private jails (supplier pays for capital) and also selling prisons on prime sites in cities/towns (Maidstone, Winchester, Bedford, etc.) and relocating to other areas.
Put more prisons where the criminals are (e.g. North Wales does not have a prison - they mainly end up in Liverpool).

We also have about 11,500 foreign nationals in prison - quite simply, I think the vast majority should be deported and serve their sentences in their home nations.

Make rehabilitation pay - offer / insist on education and skills training followed by financially rewarding the probation service and voluntary agencies to keep ex-criminals from reoffending.
You could even pay proper wages for prison work which is then either paid to keep their homes/families (rather than be on benefits) or use as savings for once out of prison.

There is a lot of concern about how many people end up in prison. I wonder that if people served their full sentences, had that extra time to undertake the training, education and rehabilitation with real support on leaving, would they be so keen to offend again with the risk of going back? Who knows - but it's got to be worth a go.

Prison works. When criminals are off the streets, they are not committing crime. Ask the people of Nottingham when a notorious gang was imprisoned and gun crime fell immediately. Speak to police officers and communities about the arrests of certain local criminals and they see local crime fall.

Let's get our police back on the beat, gaining and acting on local intelligence.

Let's back them up with a justice system that actively shows it cares more about the victim than the offender.

Let's offer the offenders the best opportunities to change their ways.

When crime stops "paying" more than an honest job, fewer people will commit it.

25 years later

Today marks 25 years since the Brighton bombing and the death and injury of several leading Conservatives at the Grand Hotel. Lord Tebbit has been in the news over the weekend and in today's papers. Of course, he is still caring for his wife and will forever mourn his friends that died.

 

His sentiment of not being soft on terrorism is absolutely spot on but I diverge from his views on how to treat those terrorists who remain (and reserving a part of Hell for them - that's between them and God).

 

Alexander Pope said it all - "To err is human, to forgive is divine". The concept of forgiving those who do wrong can be very difficult but I will put my Catholic hat on here (and no, I'm not a soft liberal Catholic) - we have to look through where we are today and be looking for THE solution of peace. That requires a different kind of courage. It doesn't require to say that those who did wrong were OK to do it - far from it. It does require a willingness to forgive those who have said sorry and that they will not do it again (that last bit is the key bit - saying sorry is the easy bit).

 

Where political engagement is possible, then we should engage. Al Qaeda cannot be engaged - there is an absolutism in its ideology of one eternal solution and even if Bin Laden was captured, that would not be the end of AQ - the ideology is spreading across several countries.

 

So, where does that leave us moving forward?  Northern Ireland is a stable, democratic place.  The Israel/Palestine arena is a democratic, unstable place. Afghanistan is an emerging democracy but unstable place. We should be deploying our military force to ensure that terrorists do not win on the basis of terror. The military containment of terrorists gives the platform to the leaders and stakeholders to have dialogue and find a new, long-lasting solution.  Not easy - it can take time - it can mean swallowing difficult history - but the prize will be worth it.

 

 

www.theresecoffey.com

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The Conservative Fringe

For those who have not been to Party Conference, the Fringe is the generic term for the meetings outside the main Party sessions.

I have long preferred the Fringe as it is where "ordinary" members can get to ask questions and make contributions, getting closer to the politicians than in the main Conference hall. They are set up by pressure groups, policy think tanks, trade unions, etc.

 

As any conference goer will admit, so many great meetings and how to choose? I pick different themes every year. Last year, it was Europe and social cohesion. This year it was rural and defence-related.

 

My top three were...

 

NFU - Farming Matters

- A good contribution from our front bench team (Jim Paice has the patience of a saint!) and Nick Herbert revealed that he would be insisting that an extra standard would be introduced into public procurement of food, namely that the foodstuffs must be produced to British food standards.

I was surprised that an MEP wasn't up on the table (Richard Ashworth and Robert Sturdy were both there) as Agriculture is mainly decided in Europe nowadays but I know they work well together outside the glare of the spotlight.

 

Global Strategy Forum - Negotiating with Terrorists

This was a chance to see 2 big beasts - Michael Ancram and Sir Malcolm Rifkind - debating, "Should we negotiate with Terrorists?" Fascinating stuff which covered broad spectrum of current foreign and defence challenges and really showed what MPs can achieve on their own initiative, not just with the weight of government behind them.

 

SMF - Sustainable Communities

Caroline Spelman and others spoke convincingly of the need for sustainable communities which included ensuring jobs were at hand, not just grand buildings, and that learning the lessons of the past in terms of design did not happen as often as it should.

 

 

Political Themes for 2010 General Election?

Another light hearted entry for tonight - a more serious one tomorrow on Fringe Meetings from Party Conference...

 

Things can Only Get Better - for the Conservatives...12 years later

The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Any More - Labour's mood music...

I Dreamed A Dream - with the bitter sweet ending...

Yellow - cool song by Coldplay right up the Lib Dem's street

Blue Skies - accurately depicts the Tory background graphics..

 

Any other suggestions?

Nobel Prize surprise

Rumours of President Obama receiving the Nobel Prize for Physics for being considered ready to walk on water have been hotly denied, though Downing St is steadying itself to receive the Nobel Prize for Economics for Gordon Brown's comprehensive defeat of global boom and bust.

: )

The Sun is still Shining - even in Manchester

What a week - what a conference - what a speech.

David Cameron pulled it all together to give a personal, passionate tour de force to round off what has been a buzzing conference in Manchester.

Even the rain held off mostly (except Tuesday night) so as not to spoil the proceedings.

Perhaps a few too many lobbyists but most members I met were in good heart but also not being complacent, detailing what campaigning they had done and were doing.

I was pleased to see my MP Sir George Young back on the platform and I thought there were many good performances by the Shadow Cabinet and their teams.

 

Members were spoilt for choice on the fringe. I enjoyed the NFU on Farming (Jim Paice is a true professional and Nick Herbert is bringing good leadership and direction) and the 2 big beasts of Michael Ancram and Sir Malcolm Rifkind debating strategies for global security.

 

We've had our "holiday" - now it's back to the hard work. To make life easier, log onto www.myconservatives.com - a fantastic new tool that makes it even easier to campaign for the candidate of your choice.

 

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Party Conference in Manchester

Manchester is host to the Conference this year and it is packed. Fringe meetings are full, the conference's key themes are resonating and there is real determination to make this the last conference in opposition for a while.

 

Fixing Politics and Getting Britain Working are the strong themes so far. Lots of good ideas and a sign that we are ready to pull the levers of government if and when the electorate place their trust with us.

 

 

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Labour - the really Nasty Party

Labour insults were flying thick and fast this past week with scare stories and down right vicious attacks.

All that is water off a duck's back for most Tories - recognising it as a sign of desperation (I still remember those Demon Eyes badges that after being handed out suddenly found their way into the nearest bin) and lashing out.

However, yet again, our ECR allies are being besmirched. I would have thought a libel action should be considered but often, it is best to just ignore such vicious childishness.

 

These speeches addressed at the Party faithful and the Brothers are just an early taste of what is to come in the Labour leadership contest next May.  I would expect it of HH (and a few lines in her speech were witty) but dismayed by the other leading contender.

 

Well the Sun has stopped shining on New Labour and indeed, the dusk if not nightime is here - no new dawnings for this motley crew.  

 

 

Ireland's D-Day (again!)

Ireland gets its chance to vote today again while the people of Britain are denied their say on the most significant changes to Europe since we entered the EU over 25 years ago.

 

I'll be praying that the majority of Irish people realise that not a single word has changed in the Treaty... that the EU will not cease to exist if they say no... that there will be a fresh treaty likely that will streamline Europe's workings but not fundamentally tip the balance away from nation states and national parliaments.

What could tip the balance? Perhaps the headlines of President Blair - yes.. a Brit being effectively in charge of all of Europe - including Ireland. Don't think it will happen - don't leave it to chance!

 

Come on Ireland - I want to drink my Guinness tonight in celebration not be drowning my sorrow.

(Otherwise I will have to switch to Czech Budvar!)

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